Clinical evaluation of an illuminated dental mirror

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of an illuminated mirror improved a dental student's ability to detect oral disease or abnormalities and whether an oral examination could be conducted more efficiently with it when compared with the use of a conventional mirror and chair-mounted light source. Students examined patients with the illuminated mirror and with a standard dental mirror for caries, defective restorations, dental staining, etc. Students were observed to determine how often they adjusted the overhead light or shifted their positions to see better and the length of time the examination was noted. After each examination, students were asked to rate how well they could see in various intraoral sites. There was no difference in specificity ratios between the two techniques, and the only significant difference (p < or = 0.05) in sensitivity ratios was in the detection of caries. There was no difference in the number of position shifts or length of examinations; students made fewer external light adjustments when using the illuminated mirror. On a 10-point scale, students rated their ability to see intraorally better with the illuminated mirror.